• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Karissa's Vegan Kitchen logo

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Side Dishes
    • Dessert
    • Snacks
    • Soup
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • eBooks
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Popular Recipes
  • Search By Meals
  • Search By Ingredients
  • Search By Holidays
  • eBooks
  • Free Vegan Beginner's Guide
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Vegan Recipes

    Easy Vegan Coleslaw

    Published May 17, 2019 · Updated May 23, 2020 · 2 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet

    This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. See my disclosure policy.

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Tangy and slightly sweet vegan coleslaw made with 8 simple ingredients. Nut-free, gluten-free, with an oil-free and low-fat option.

    Easy vegan coleslaw in a white bowl with red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots.

    Easy Vegan Coleslaw

    Is it even summer without the baked beans and a good coleslaw recipe to bring to a BBQ or potluck?

    This was a recipe requested many times after I posted this sloppy joes recipe and I'm here to deliver!

    Classic coleslaw calls for mayonnaise and sometimes dairy, but it is SO EASY to make vegan coleslaw. Basically as simple as swapping in vegan mayo. My favorite brands are Just Mayo and Hellmann's Vegan Mayo (Hellmann's is also known as Best Foods in other locations.) Some other brands of vegan mayo are Vegenaise and Mindful.

    Ingredients for coleslaw on a wooden tray

    But the secret to a good coleslaw isn't just the creamy mayo - we also need some tangy and sweet flavors. For the acidity, apple cider vinegar does the job! You could also use white vinegar, but I prefer the extra flavor ACV offers. You can use maple syrup or organic cane sugar for the hint of sweetness always found in coleslaw.

    We could stop there, but celery seed, salt, and pepper add a good punch of additional flavor to the coleslaw dressing. No weirdly-sweet-but-still-bland supermarket-esque coleslaw here. But if you truly hate the flavor of celery, just leave out the celery seed and it will still be delicious.

    Easy vegan coleslaw in a white bowl with red cabbage, green cabbage, carrots and vegan mayo.

    What Type of Cabbage is Best for Coleslaw?

    While the flavors are, like, SUPER important, let's not forget about the base for our coleslaw: cabbage and carrots.

    The type of cabbage traditionally used in coleslaw is green cabbage - sometimes in addition to red cabbage. These types are more resistant to sogginess than other cabbages. I like to use both for the beautiful color contrast.

    If you have some Brussels sprouts you need to use up, you can shred 'em and add 'em in, too! I've done this a couple times and love the flavor/texture variation.

    How to Shred Cabbage for Coleslaw

    To shred cabbage, cut the head into quarters and cut off the core. Then, taking a sharp knife, thinly slice the cabbage. You can also use a mandolin slicer which is quicker and easier.

    Don't have time to shred cabbage? With the pre-packaged salad mixes, grocery stores also carry a coleslaw mix. At my usual store, I found a mix of shredded green cabbage & carrots. But some also carry the green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrot trio.

    Quick and simple vegan coleslaw in a white bowl with red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots.

    Oil-Free & Low-Fat Coleslaw Option

    If you would prefer a low-fat coleslaw, I have a recipe for oil-free "mayo" that will fit the bill. The recipe is also soy-free and nut-free - it's made with white beans and other flavors like dijon mustard to achieve that mayo taste. I love using it in this potato salad recipe.

    Did you love this recipe? Please leave a rating/comment!

    Easy vegan coleslaw in a white bowl with red cabbage, green cabbage, and carrots.

    Easy Vegan Coleslaw

    Karissa Besaw
    8-ingredient vegan coleslaw recipe with an oil-free option.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Resting time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 8
    Calories 113 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups shredded cabbage *
    • 1 cup shredded carrots
    • ½ cup vegan mayo
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or organic cane sugar
    • ½ teaspoon celery seed or celery salt
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • To shred the cabbage: Cut the head of cabbage into quarters, then cut out the core. Using a sharp knife, slice the cabbage into very thin strips. Or, you could use a mandolin.
    • Toss all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
    • Store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

    Notes

    *I used 3 cups of green cabbage and 1 cup of red cabbage.
    1 medium-head of cabbage shredded typically yields 4-5 cups.
    Alternatively, you could purchase a bag of coleslaw mix from the store. Use 5 cups to replace the cabbage and carrots.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 98mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2707IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Vegan Recipes

    • Garlicky Sautéed Green Beans
    • Vegan Chicken and Dumplings
    • Vegan Blueberry Pie
    • Vegan Sugar Cookies
    • Share
    • Tweet

    about karissa

    About Karissa

    Hey! I’m happy you’re here! My name is Karissa and I’ve been cooking up delicious vegan food since going vegan in 2016. Not vegan and just want to eat more plants? We don't judge - everyone is welcome in our kitchen. Read more...

  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Primary Sidebar

    hey there!

    Welcome to Karissa's Vegan Kitchen! I’m happy you’re here! My name is Karissa and I’ve been cooking up delicious vegan food since going vegan in 2016. Not vegan and just want to eat more plants? We don't judge - everyone is welcome in our kitchen.

    • Fluffy Vegan Pancakes
    • Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing Recipe
    • The Best Fudgy Vegan Brownies
    • Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
    • Impossible Burger Meatloaf
    • Easy 5-Minute Vegan Gravy

    Footer

    Image says "featured on..." then includes company logos of Finding Vegan, healthline, VegNews, PETA, Runner's World, LiveKindly, Prevention, Woman's Day, Shape, Buzzfeed, and MSN.

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 KARISSA'S VEGAN KITCHEN · Privacy Policy & Disclosures · Contact